Receptacle for poultry.



No. 747.494 PATENTED DEC. 22, 1903. I T. J. SMITH. REGEPTAGLE FOR POULTRY.

APPLIGATION FILED. AUG. 8; 1903.

-10 MODEL.

m: nonms PETERS cm nwauma. wnsumumm n c UNITED STATES Iatented December 22, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

RECEPTACLE- FOR POULTRY.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 747,494, dated December 22, 1903.

" Application filed August 8,1903. Serial No.168,830. (No model.)

To all whom/ it may concern: I

Be it known that I, THOMAS JEFFERSON SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Manassas, in the county of Prince William and State of Virginia, havein ventednew and useful Improvements in Receptacles for Poultry, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a crate or storagereceptacle for poultry, birds, and the like; and the primary object of the same is to provide a device of this class having means-for preserving it in a cleanly condition and avoid injury to poultry or birds duringshipment or storage or while they are temporarily held within the confines of the crate or receptacle.

A further object of the invention is to equip a crate or receptacle for the purposes set forth with such means that it may be easily cleaned and also with removable devices for supplying the occupants with water and food.

With these and other objects and advantages in view the invention consists in the construction and arrangement of the several parts, which will be more fully'hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of a crate or receptacle embodying the features of the invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section ofvthe same. Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section through a portion of the crate or receptacle, showing the manner of applying elongated Water and feed containing cups or troughs.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts in the views.

The numeral 1 designates a solid bottom with upstanding side and end flanges 2 and 3 to form a chamber in the bottom,the one end 3-having a slot 4 cut therethrough to provide for the movement of a flat slide or drawer 5, which rests closely against the upper surface of the bottom 1 when in normal position, and has at one end an upstanding guard 6 to bear against the end '3, having the slot 4 therein.

The end 3, provided with the slot 4 at the center of the upper portion thereof, has an angular catch 7 secured thereon, with which a button or pivoted arm 8, secured to the center of the guard 6, is adapted to engage to hold the slide or drawer 5 against outward movement.

Secured to the upperedge portions of the side and end flanges 2- and 3 is a reticulated partition 9, which is drawn taut to prevent sagging thereof and render it practical for sustaining the Weight of poultry or birds imposed thereon.

Rising from the sides 2 and ends 3 are vertical bars 10, which pass through the side and end rails 11 and 12 of an intermediate partition 13, having a reticulated covering 14, similar to the, covering '9. The upper ends of the bars 10 connect with the side and end rails of a top frame 15, having a central 1ongitudinally-disposed brace-strip 16, through which are projected transverse bars 17, terminally held in the side bars of the said top frame. By arranging the intermediate partition 13 in the manner just explained two compartments are provided, which have reticulated bottoms, and to render said compartments accessible hinged doors 18 are arranged in one side of the crate or receptacle and provided with suitable fastenings.

.Secured within the compartments and preferably located at opposite sides are elongated vv ater and feed containing cups or troughs 19, the side portions of the reticulated bottoms of the compartments having angular flanges 20 secured thereto to engage depending flanges 21 at the bottoms of the cups or troughs. Secured to the vertical wires at the sides of the crate or receptacle a suitable distance above the side members of the reticulated bottoms of the compartments are reversely-arranged angular flanges 22 to take over flanges 23 at the tops of the cups or'troughs, the said angular flanges serving as guides, in which the flanges of the troughs are freely slidable and removable through the ends of the crate without requiring the hinged doors 18 to be opened and the fowls or birds contained Within the crate disturbed to withdraw the said cups or troughs for cleansing and filling purposes.

The advantage of the improved crate or receptacle is that the droppings will pass through the coverings 9 and 14 and be deposited on the slide or door 5, and the latter can be removed to relieve the crate or receptacle of uncleanly refuse.

It is proposed to use the crate or receptacle at times as a coop and also to embody the reticulated coverings as a rest for poultry-houses or other places of storage. Moreover, the crate may be increased in size and general dimensions without in the least de- 5 parting from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. A crate or receptacle having a chambered base, inclosing means attached to said to base, a reticulated covering secured to the upper portion of the base, an intermediate reticulated partition dividing the crate into two compartments, said partition being arranged parallel with the base, means for I 5 gaining access to the compartments, a slide 

